Through flesh of our flesh we are vulnerable
we feel the perils of air and water close.
Thunder comes through our walls from the universe.
We may grow our children but we yet may lose.
Tall in their bodies and minds, yet war is not far
reaching across thick mountains and thrashing seas.
We may teach them to love their brother yet another
with murder in hand and heart will burn their ease.
Through our children we learn the face of fear.
We have no wing to hide them from the truth.
We must shelter them with an hour of happiness
despite our dread of tomorrow allow them youth.
The truth must come from the long, sad lesson of time
the history of leaders who do not honour life.
We learn from evil men as much as saints
who played their wicked game of human strife.
We brought them from our seed, their little sleep
and must go down to ours before they do,
so let our fear be lest we teach too small
of the way that freedom out of courage grew.
Source: “Family, My Home” by Amy McGrath
